Director, International Student and Scholar Services

NAU aims to be the nation’s preeminent engine of opportunity, vehicle of economic mobility, and driver of social impact by delivering equitable postsecondary value in Arizona and beyond.

• This position is posted as Director, ISSS , which is a working title. The NAU system title for this position is Director, International Education.
• This position is an on-site position which requires the incumbent to complete their work primarily at an NAU site, campus, or facility with or without accommodation. Opportunities for remote work are rare.

The Director of International Student and Scholar Services (ISSS) functions as the Principal Designated School Official (PDSO) and Responsible Officer (RO) for the Student and Exchange Visitor Program (SEVP) and for this reason needs to be a U.S. citizen or U.S. permanent resident. In addition to the data reporting required for SEVP, the person in this role will also be responsible for data collection, analysis, and reporting about international student populations and will lead a team of professionals who serve NAU students and scholars to comply with visa regulations.

Manages the processes and tools within International Student and Scholar Services (ISSS) to ensure needs of current international students are being met, and that proper resources are being provided for future international students.

The Director of ISSS serves as the expert on policies relating to F, J, H1B, O1, and other visa holders that are studying or working at the university. The Director of ISSS reports to the Associate Vice Provost at the Center for International Education (CIE).

Supervisory Staff Management - 30%

• Recruit, hire, train, and evaluate ISSS staff to ensure best practices and best experiences for students.
• Develop goals and implement a comprehensive plan to strengthen the ISSS unit’s services and initiatives in accordance with the university’s mission for greater campus internationalization. Recommend new initiatives and changes to existing policies and procedures as necessary.
• Supervise a professional staff of advisors, coordinators, and an assistant director in their day-to-day work. Establish clear goals and paths for professional development.
• Collaborate closely with International Admissions & Recruitment, International Student Retention & Inclusion, all other divisions within the Center for International Education, and stakeholders across campus (including but not limited to Health & Learning Center, Provost office, deans, chairs, instructors, academic advisors, university police, student accounts, etc.) to ensure accurate, smooth, and effective management of international student/scholar issues.

Immigration and SEVIS Records and Compliance - 20%

• Ensure high quality service, advisement and problem resolution is offered to students in support of their compliance with SEVIS regulations.
• Ensure the accurate maintenance of NAU’s relationship, records, and program authorization with SEVIS.
• Timely and accurately resolve any compliance or reporting issues.
• Ensure first quality services to NAU colleges, Units and their international hires and/or scholars, so their cases are properly supported and resolved in a timely manner.

Work Design, Project Management, Financial Planning, and Goal Development - 15%

• Evaluate processes for continuous improvement
• Manage workflow and work assignments
• Plan, implement and review annual activity and strategy
• Set, track, and evaluate goals. Find and implement improvement opportunities.

Student Support - 15%

• Ensure that ISSS offers excellent quality in timely and compassionate support to international students.

Advisory and Support to NAU Colleges and Units - 15%

• Serve as the expert in immigration, SEVIS and other visa regulatory topics for the entire NAU community.

Other - 5%

• Perform or participate in other professional tasks as identified by their direct supervisor.

• Bachelor’s degree.
• 3-5 years of supervisory experience required.
• 5-7 years of relevant experience.
• Any combination of relevant education and experience may be substituted for the educational requirement on a year-for-year basis.
• US citizenship or lawful permanent residency (in order to serve as a PDSO and RO).

• Master’s degree.
• Eight years progressively responsible experience in international education.
• Six years progressively responsible experience.
• Four years experience as a Principle Designated School Official and Responsible Officer.
• Four or more years experience in ISSS specifically and as a PDSO and RO.
• Four or more years experience directly supervising professional staff.
• Previous experience using Sunapsis and/or PeopleSoft.
• Experience living/working/studying abroad for at least one year, or two years of direct professional collaboration with stakeholders, students or staff located abroad.
• Previous experience working with sponsoring agencies (e.g. Fulbright, SACM, IREX, etc.)
• Fluency in a language other than English.

• Extensive knowledge of US immigration regulations affecting international students/scholars.
• Extensive knowledge of SEVIS online database.
• Knowledge of best practices for international student/scholar counseling, support, and programming and skill in implementing.
• Skill using student records software.
• Demonstrated ability to work and communicate with people from diverse backgrounds and with varying levels of English language ability.
• Ability to ensure student records are kept with high accuracy and organized.
• Ability to meet multiple reporting deadlines.
• Ability to share on-call duties outside of standard business days and hours to handle emergencies.

Northern Arizona University requires satisfactory results for the following: a criminal background investigation, an employment history verification and a degree verification (in some cases) prior to employment. You may also be required to complete a fingerprint background check. Additionally, as an employer in the state of Arizona, NAU is required to participate in the federal E-Verify program that assists employers with verifying new employees' right to work in the United States. Finally, each year Northern Arizona University releases an Annual Security Report. The report is a result of a federal law known as the Clery Act. The report includes Clery reportable crime statistics for the three most recent completed calendar years and discloses procedures, practices and programs NAU uses to keep students and employees safe including how to report crimes or other emergencies occurring on campus. In addition, the Fire Safety Report is combined with the Annual Security Report for the NAU Flagstaff Mountain Campus as this campus has on-campus student housing. This report discloses fire safety policies and procedures related to on-campus student housing and statistics for fires that occurred in those facilities. If you would like a free paper copy of the report, please contact the NAUPD Records Department at (928) 523-8884 or by visiting the department at 525 E. Pine Knoll Drive in Flagstaff.

Salary range begins at $77,871. Annual salary commensurate with candidate's qualifications and related experience.

This position is exempt from the overtime provisions of the Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA) and therefore will not earn overtime or compensatory time for additional time worked.

This is a Service Professional (SPF) position. NAU offers an excellent benefit package including generous health, dental and vision insurance; participation in the Arizona State Retirement System or the Optional Retirement Program; 22 days of vacation and 10 holidays per year; and tuition reduction for employees and qualified dependents. More information on benefits at NAU is available on the Human Resources benefits website. NAU is a tobacco and smoke-free campus. Service Professionals are hired on a contract basis, renewable each 6 months according to terms of the Conditions of Professional Service. Employees offered a position will be eligible for state health plans (including NAU's BCBS Plan). New employees are eligible for benefits on the first day of the pay period following their enrollment, after their employment date. Employees will have 31 days from their start date to enroll in benefits. If a new employee chooses the ASRS retirement option, participation in the Arizona State Retirement System, and the long-term disability coverage that accompanies it, will begin on the first of the pay period following 6 months after the new employee's start date. New employees who choose to participate in the Optional Retirement Plan (ORP), which is an alternative to the ASRS plan for faculty and other appointed staff, will begin to participate on the first day of the pay period following election. Additionally, the long-term disability plan that accompanies the ORP will begin on the first day of the pay period following election.

Your career at Northern Arizona University includes the opportunity for professional development. New employee on-boarding training includes courses to be completed within the first 30 days.

NAU will not provide any U.S. immigration support or sponsorship for this position.

February 24, 2025 at 11:59 p.m.

To apply for this position, please click on the "Apply" button on this page. You must submit your application by clicking on the "Submit" button by midnight of the application deadline. If you need assistance completing your application there are instructions available on the Human Resources website or in person in the Human Resources Department located in Building 91 on the NAU Campus - on the corner of Beaver and DuPont Streets.

If you are an individual with a disability and need reasonable accommodation to participate in the hiring process, please contact the Disability Resources Office at 928-523-8773, DR@nau.edu, or PO Box 5633, Flagstaff AZ 86011.

Northern Arizona University is a committed Equal Opportunity/Affirmative Action Institution. Women, minorities, veterans and individuals with disabilities are encouraged to apply. NAU is responsive to the needs of dual career couples.

Know Your Rights Poster

NAU is an Employer of National Service. AmeriCorps, Peace Corps, and other National Service alumni are encouraged to apply.